Similarities between Two Hawthorne WorksAnonymous12th Grade

Some authors experiment with various styles and techniques throughout their literary career, with distinct differences between various works. This is not true in the case of Nathaniel Hawthorne. Hawthorne displays striking similarities in style and content in his works. Such similarities can be displayed between The Scarlet Letter and Young Goodman Brown. Both works display Hawthorne’s view on human nature, utilize setting as a character, and contain a fallible clergy member. Analysis of these works will bring similarities to light.

HUMAN NATURE

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s view on human nature was not an optimistic one. In fact, nearly all of his works display an extremely dark and dismal view of human nature. Hawthorne himself describes The Scarlet Letter as “a tale of human frailty and sorrow” (2). Indeed, The Scarlet Letter demonstrates a fragile view of human existence, both physically and spiritually. Many of the characters in this work suffer from internal and/or external ailments that promote Hawthorne’s dismal view of humanity, and contradict a “beautiful” view of human nature.

To begin, an example of human frailty in The Scarlet Letter can be seen in various physical ailments plaguing various characters within the story. Roger...